Germany, who had routed Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the opening game came up against a much-improved Ghana who had arrived after a heart-breaking loss to US in their opening game and realized this game as the opportunity to put their World Cup back on track.

And what a roller-coaster of an open game it turned out to be. Ninety minutes and some more, flew by so fast that before you realized it, it was over.

Stats suggested that Germany usually tended to peak early - having won their second World Cup group game on just one occasion since 1994. They had drawn three and lost one, and it was not proving easy against the Africans.

In a balanced first half, Ghana seemed on the rise while the Germans were happy to play along. Because in the second session, they soon restored some idea of supremacy with a Mario Goetze header after being fed from the deep by Thomas Mueller.

But Ghana was not to be put down by that. Hardly had five minutes lapsed when Andre Ayew rose in a crowd to a Harrison Afful free kick, met it very, very late push it past Manuel Neuer and wrest the momentum.

It worked, halfway into the second session, Asamoah Gyan latched onto a through ball provided by Sulley Muntari that eluded both Matts Hummels and Benedikt Hoewedes and ran in to make it 2-0 for the African.

It set off the goal celebration of the tournament - a dance routine set to an invisible music. It was his fifth World Cup goal, and Gyan equalled Roger Milla as the top scoring African in the World Cup.

Ghana were suddenly running the Germans ragged. Ayew set himself with a ball from the left, met it with a header but it was too strong for him.

Rattled, Joachim Loew threw in Bastian Schweinsteiger for Sami Khedira and Mario Goetze made way for a certain Miroslav Klose. It worked. Hardly had the duo broken into a sweat, when Klose's outstretched foot off a Petr Mertesacker header in a German corner found the net.

Things were back to being even, and, Klose's goal put him level with Brazil's Ronaldo as the tournament's all-time top scorer with 15 goals. Klose also became one of three players to have scored in four World Cups, joining Pele and Uwe Seeler.

As the two teams exchanged fire, Toni Kross slipped one to Mueller who was denied by John Boye. The Germans' greater reserve showed as they rallied and piled on the pressure on Fatawu Dauda's goal, each time either Boye or substitute Mubarak Wakaso slinging it away.

Earlier, Mesut Ozil having found a second wind since leaving Real Madrid for Arsenal at the start of the past season, combined well with Goetze to have the better of the exchanges, but he was halted on an early break by the Ghanaian defence.

Soon, Ghana too had a good chance to go ahead when Christian Atsu took a shy at Neuer's goal. Not to outdone Ozil, on another break down the right slipped one down for Thomas Mueller who advance through the centre. Even as he shaped up to strike, John Boye did well to nick it away.

Most of Germany's moves came from the right. Soon Goetze found himself free and as he sought out Mueller, Boye again did the needful.

Then Muntari unleashed a stinging long-ranger which Neuer did well to push away.

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

110

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Germany's Thomas Mueller gives a thumbs up while holding his bleeding head after their World Cup match against Ghana at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Germany's Miroslav Klose performs a flip as he celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Ghana during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (AP Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Germany's Miroslav Klose scores his side's second goal against Ghana during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (AP Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Ghana's players dance as they celebrate a goal against Germany during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Ghana's Andre Ayew celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Germany during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (AP Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah and Germany's Mario Goetze vie for the ball during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (AP Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Ghana's John Boye heads the ball next to Germany's Thomas Mueller during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Germany's Mario Goetze celebrates after scoring a goal against Ghana during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Germany's Thomas Mueller fights for the ball with Ghana's Jonathan Mensah during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

World Cup 2014, Match 28: Germany vs Ghana

Ghana's Kwadwo Asamoah is challenged for the ball by Germany's Philipp Lahm and Toni Kroos during their World Cup match at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza. (Reuters Photo)

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